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swamprat69er
03-02-13, 10:13 AM
DEFINITION OF A MILITARY PERSON



The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who,under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behindthe ears, just old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.


He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student , pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer..

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.

He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional..

He can march until he is told to stop,
or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity.

He is self-sufficient.

He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.

If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.

He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all.

He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime..

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.



He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away ' those
around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.

In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home , he defends their right to be disrespectful..

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-
grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy..
He is the CANADIAN Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 142 years.

He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our
respect and admiration with his blood.


And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. .

A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.

A Prayer wheel for our military...


Prayer Wheel

'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops in Afghanistan , sailors on ships, and airmen in the air.

Of all the gifts you could give a CANADIAN Airman, Soldier, or Sailor, prayer is the very best one.

Platapus
03-02-13, 10:58 AM
The black text on a grey background is a little hard to read.

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 11:06 AM
The black text on a grey background is a little hard to read.

How do I change it?

Dowly
03-02-13, 11:08 AM
Paste it to Notepad first, should fix it.

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 11:15 AM
That better?

Platapus
03-02-13, 11:17 AM
Nice post. :up:

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 11:19 AM
It is about the only 'thanks' they get. Any soldier, not just Canadian.

Wolferz
03-02-13, 11:42 AM
I once participated in a joint exercise with the Canadian military way up in Alberta and I have great respect for them. Even the females. Though they are a bit fugly.:03:

Loved that two weeks in the north. We were warmly greeted by a car load of Canucks who felt compelled to show us their back sides. What was up with that?
The only problem we ran into was a Canuck unit in charge of laundry that took a fancy to our BDUs and failed to return a few articles. But, they fed us good and provided shelter that was more adequate than our own.:up:

To the army of Canada....:salute:

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 11:45 AM
I once participated in a joint exercise with the Canadian military way up in Alberta and I have great respect for them. Even the females. Though they are a bit fugly.:03:

Loved that two weeks in the north. We were warmly greeted by a car load of Canucks who felt compelled to show us their back sides. What was up with that?
The only problem we ran into was a Canuck unit in charge of laundry that took a fancy to our BDUs and failed to return a few articles. But, they fed us good and provided shelter that was more adequate than our own.:up:

To the army of Canada....:salute:

Cold Lake? or Suffield?

fireftr18
03-02-13, 11:50 AM
Good post Swamprat. The same can be said for soldiers every where. :salute:

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 11:55 AM
I saw the receptions your guys got when you all came back from WW2/Korea and Viet Nam.
I was not impressed with the reception you got when you returned from VN.

Red October1984
03-02-13, 12:54 PM
This post just made my day.

Most of my family has a military history and I won't be breaking that tradition. (Hopefully)

American Veterans are treated like crap. It's sad. It makes me want to "Square Away" those people... :03:

Thank you for that post. I salute the Canadian Military and all other soldiers who put on the uniform to fight for their country. :salute: :salute: :salute:

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 01:44 PM
The guy in my avatar was one of the many that fought in WW2. Thanks to him, I am here although he checked out in 1993.

u crank
03-02-13, 02:03 PM
Good post swamprat69er.

We all know people who have served and I hope we are all grateful. Wife's nephew did a tour in Afghanistan with The RCR.

The guy in your avatar reminds me a lot of my Dad. Air craft mechanic, 428 Sqd. RCAF. Was in England '43 to '45.

:salute:

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 02:10 PM
Good post swamprat69er.

We all know people who have served and I hope we are all grateful. Wife's nephew did a tour in Afghanistan with The RCR.

The guy in your avatar reminds me a lot of my Dad. Air craft mechanic, 428 Sqd. RCAF. Was in England '43 to '45.

:salute:

Dad was a 'gun plumber', RCAF (but you recognized the uniform) stationed at Baggotville, PQ 1942-1945

u crank
03-02-13, 02:47 PM
...but you recognized the uniform..

Yea, couldn't miss that. Dad got out after the war but re-enlisted in 1949. I grew up at RCAF Centralia and Camp Borden, Ont. His last posting was here at CFB Summerside, PEI.

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 02:57 PM
Yea, couldn't miss that. Dad got out after the war but re-enlisted in 1949. I grew up at RCAF Centralia and Camp Borden, Ont. His last posting was here at CFB Summerside, PEI.

I was kinda thinking you might be in spud island.:)

Dad was finally taken off the reserve list in 1975.

I have to get his war records, but I have to wait until this coming winter.

Unless you have the person written permission to access the archives, then you have to wait until they are dead for 20 years. Still need DoB, SIN# and service number. I got all that, I just need to wait.

My Grandads info is coming from Britain soon.

He was 20 when that pic was taken. Him and me looked exactly the same in the same uniform. He was 1942, I was 1964.

u crank
03-02-13, 03:25 PM
I was kinda thinking you might be in spud island.:)

Yea, Dad was from here. I was actually born in Toronto and lived there in the 70's but this little island is home now.

I have to get his war records, but I have to wait until this coming winter.

We went through that as well. My brother finally got them a few years ago. Interesting stuff if you can read between the lines. A great thing to have.

He was 20 when that pic was taken. Him and me looked exactly the same in the same uniform. He was 1942, I was 1964.

Now that Sir, is very cool.:up:

May I ask where in Ontario do you live?

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 04:31 PM
May I ask where in Ontario do you live?

I'm near North Bay.

A few years ago I was up to Silver Dollar a few trips. Like 4 trips a week.

u crank
03-02-13, 04:37 PM
I'm near North Bay.

It's a small world. My Mom was born in Capreol, just north of Sudbury.

Jimbuna
03-02-13, 05:39 PM
It is about the only 'thanks' they get. Any soldier, not just Canadian.

Good post Swamprat. The same can be said for soldiers every where. :salute:

Rgr that.

~SALUTE~

Wolferz
03-02-13, 06:49 PM
Cold Lake? or Suffield?

Camp Wainwright.:salute:

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 07:50 PM
The British Army usually goes to Suffield for live firing exercises.
Locals call it 'the British block'.

I forgot to mention, you got mooned.

Wolferz
03-02-13, 09:58 PM
I forgot to mention, you got mooned.


Looked more like Canadian bacon to me.:D

I figured the locals were just proud of their pigs and wanted us to see them.:O:

Why do they put pants on them?

swamprat69er
03-02-13, 10:26 PM
Looked more like Canadian bacon to me.:D

I figured the locals were just proud of their pigs and wanted us to see them.:O:

Why do they put pants on them?

Were they military people that were mooning you or civilians?

If it was civilians, then it has to be an Alberta thing. When I was working out there (I am born and raised in Ontario), the Albertans hated me for some unknown reason. I just did my job and didn't fraternise.
Did most of my drinking in a classier bar than most of them would dare go into.

Wolferz
03-03-13, 05:38 AM
Were they military people that were mooning you or civilians?

If it was civilians, then it has to be an Alberta thing. When I was working out there (I am born and raised in Ontario), the Albertans hated me for some unknown reason. I just did my job and didn't fraternise.
Did most of my drinking in a classier bar than most of them would dare go into.

No, they were civilians. The soldiers I met there had more class.

Camp Wainwright isn't very big. We were bivouaced in a tent city in the middle of a large empty field.
The only fun to be had there was catching prairie dogs.:smug: The CO was nice enough to bus us down to the Edmonton mall one weekend. That place is amazing! Plenty of good looking girls. Easy to meet with a fist full of roses to hand out to them.:up:

raymond6751
03-03-13, 06:58 AM
Good post and good thread. Thanks all.

swamprat69er
03-03-13, 11:44 AM
No, they were civilians. The soldiers I met there had more class.



That is a civilian thing...They don't like 'newcomers' whether it be fellow Canadians or anyone else. There is only a select few that behave this way.
The rest of Albertans are really nice people.

MH
03-03-13, 01:09 PM
Why those definitions always sound like boot camp day one.:hmmm:
:haha: